Liverpool's Lack of Home Goals Proves the Problem Again Against Sunderland

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL—Liverpool's frustrating Premier League campaign continued with another disappointing result at Anfield, this time against Gus Poyet's Sunderland.

The goalless draw means Liverpool have now scored just seven home Premier League goals this season in eight games—one more than Charlie Austin has scored for Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road to date. It's a pretty damming statistic—with only Burnley and Aston Villa having scored less home goals than Liverpool. 

It's less than one goal per home game for a team who scored 53 home goals in their 19 Premier League games last season. If Liverpool fans were getting more than their money's worth last season, they're balancing it out by being shortchanged this year.

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Brendan Rodgers' side have two goals in their last four home Premier League games, in which they've played Hull City, Chelsea, Stoke City and Sunderland.

This performance was very similar to the one last week against Stoke, but without the goal, and the one against Hull a fortnight before that, where the game ended goalless too, unable to make the breakthrough and any attacking intent arriving as too little, too late.

Without Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli due to injury, Rodgers was left with Rickie Lambert up front for the fifth game in succession—all within the last 14 days for the 32-year-old.

Rodgers, for the third game running, opted not to name Fabio Borini among the subs, meaning Liverpool lacked a recognised striker on the bench again. Asked post-match why the Italian is not featuring, Rodgers said that it's a decision he makes as the manager but insisted that there is no issue.

Instead, Lambert was left to complete 90 minutes again and will be tasked with doing so for the crucial Champions League tie with Basel on Tuesday night.

Rodgers turned to captain Steven Gerrard from the bench with 25 minutes remaining, and shortly after, Lazar Markovic—who made his first appearance since playing at Real Madrid over a month ago.

Neither were able to make the breakthrough, although Liverpool did look far more threatening in the latter stages.

The damage was arguably done with such a slow start and lack of attacking intent before the final half an hour, which has become the norm at Anfield this season.

"

via @StatsZone app: #LFC created 10 of their 13 chances in the last 35 mins today. So slow to get going this season http://t.co/QcxKY9x7Ho

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 6, 2014"

Much of that was due to the pace of Raheem Sterling, who Rodgers described as "fantastic" post-match.

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The 19-year-old has played more minutes than any outfield player for Liverpool this season though and is carrying the weight of the side. Too often they seek out Sterling and rely upon him to make the breakthrough, as he did with the cross for Gerrard's goal at Leicester in the week.

Back in March when these two sides met, with Liverpool pushing for the title, saw Sunderland boss Gus Poyet claim that Rodgers' side would be a mid-table team without Luis Suarez, as per The Telegraph. Quotes which were brought back up before this encounter—and which are seemingly being proven true more and more by the week.

A second clean sheet of the week may point to more solidity being provided by Rodgers' side, but it's come at the expense of any attacking impetus.

* Quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise stated.